It has been revealed that Indians are concerned about France’s defence agreements for the sale of Rafale aircraft to Middle Eastern nations because of the buyers’ close defence links to China and Pakistan.

Experts in India have expressed concern over France exporting Rafale fighter jets to Qatar and the UAE, both of which maintain close defence and intelligence ties with Pakistan and China. They fear that such sales could lead to passive technology leakage through joint military exercises, maintenance cooperation, or shared operational environments — potentially exposing sensitive systems and data.

Central to these worries is the Rafale’s Spectra electronic warfare suite, a sophisticated system that provides threat detection, situational awareness, and countermeasures across radar, laser, and infrared domains. Spectra integrates sensor data to prioritize threats and deploys jamming, decoys, and flares automatically, enhancing Rafale’s stealth and survivability. Unlike traditional stealth jets, Rafale actively manages its electromagnetic signature in real time.

Beyond Spectra, Rafale’s high agility, delta-canard design, and network-centric capabilities enable secure coordination with other platforms and radars, strengthening its combat effectiveness.

However, during recent military clashes in May, Pakistan reportedly shot down six Indian jets, including three Rafales. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officials acknowledged Rafale’s capabilities but credited their own success to superior electronic warfare, agile tactics, and an integrated command-and-control structure supported by drones and precision strikes — factors that some experts speculate may have benefited indirectly from exposure to Rafale technology via third parties.